Projectile.



w. c. HUNTINGTON.

PROJvECTiLE.

APPLICATION mio nic.14. 1915.

Patented Sept. 12, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

D STATES -Parenti? vermee.

. WILLIAM CALDWELL HUNTINGTON, F HINSDALE, ILLINOIS.

PROJEGTILE.

To all whom, 'it may concern.'

Be it known that I, WILLIAM CALDWELL HUNTINGTON a citizen of the United States,

Kit

residing at Ilinsdale, in the county of Dupage and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Projectiles, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to projectiles both for ordnance and smaller ire arms, and particularly anti-air-craft projectiles.

The objects of myl invention are, primarily, to provide a projectile that contains a number of independent parts which are tied together, and which,` when the projectile is discharged from the gun or cannon, separate the length of the wires, chains or other exible sinuate means connecting them and thus covera comparatively large 2@ |area and enables the said parts to tear and break the planes the frame and stays of the air-craft it may strike, so badly, as to incapacitate it for further flight. This I ac complish by the means hereinafter described, and as particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side view of the projectile embodying my improvements partially inclosed by its casing which is shown in section. Fig. 2 is a transverse section thereof taken on dotted line 2 2,v Fig. 1. 2 Fig. 3 is a diagrammatical view of' said projectile as lit appears when describing its trajectory. Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are, re-

spectively, views similar to Figs. 1, 2`and 3 showlng a modified form of my invention. Figs. 7, 8, and 9 are, respectively, views similar to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 showing another modified form of my invention. Figs. 10, 11 and 12 are, respectively, views similar to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 showing yet another modification of my invention. Figs. 13, 14 and 15 are, respectively, also views similar to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, illustrating a fourth modif fcation of myinvention. Figs. 16, 17 and 18 are, respectively, views similar to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of a ifth modification of my invention. Y

rlhe preferred form of my invention, shown in the first three figures of the drawings, comprises a substantially cylindrical shell having a conical head and having the diameter of its base reduced. The outer surface of this reduced portion isrslightly tapered from the shoulder a resulting from this reduction to the rear end of the projec- Specieation of Letters Patent. YPatented Sept, 1 2, 1916 Application filed December 14, 1915. Serial No. 66,711. y

to the outer curved surface thereof near the l shoulder a. These tethers are, preferably,

`all ofthe same length and have their other ends securely fastened to a circular anchorplate or diaphragm c near the outer circumference thereof at equal distances apart, and between said diaphragm and their opposite ends said tethers are wound around said Shanks when the sections are in their asf sembled position.

The assembled section 'may be tied to- Y gether in any suitable manner, but I prefer to keep them in their relative positions until red from the gun or cannon by a cylindrical casing D of brass or other' suitable material, the upper, portion of which in-V closes the cylindrical portion of the shell. The base d of this casing is closedand the.

upper side thereof is bored to provide a chamber E which is filled with a suitable explosive, and a time fuse F is tapped through the center of said base into chamber E.

vWhen the shell is` properly placed in itscasing diaphragm c is seated on base d and covers over and closes chamber E, and the Shanks of the sections of the projectile and the tethers occupy the space betweenJ the diaphragm and shoulder a of the same.

When the projectile, hereinbefore described, is fired from a cannon, it will con- ,tinue on its flight until `the fuse F ignites the explosive in chamber E, whereupon it explodes and the sections of the projectile separate and iy apart as they continue at an accelerated speedtoward the air-craft (say) at which they wereaimed and, particularly if the cannon was riied, will revolve about the diaphragm, 'and cover an area twice the length of the tethers and should they strikeythe object tear and break the parts ofsaid aircraft so badly that further Hight thereof is impossible.

In Figs. 4, 5 and 6, I show a modified construction of my invention in which the dia-- phragm is eliminated, and in which the shanks of the sections 15, securely fastened to a ball 16 much less in diameter than stead of one projectile divided into sections,

- contained in achamber covered over by said the casing 17. The sections 15 of thismodi'- ication are secured in casing 17 by pressing the upper edges of the latter into a suit- .casing below the projectile is filled with a suitable explosive 18.

In Figs. 7, 8 and 9, I show another modification of my improvements in which, in-

I employ seven, or any other suitable number of smaller solid bullet. shaped projectiles 19v 19. These bullets are securely held in the upper part of a vcasing 20, similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 Vof the drawings, and the tethers 21 are secured .to the points? of'said bullets and from thence ass down between the same to the space elow the same and above ltheldiaphragm 22 where they are coiled lengthwise the casing and have their lower ends secured equi-distant apart to the diaphragm. The'explosive is diaphragm, and a suitable fuse penetrates through the bottom of this chamber in the same manner as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings. In order to provide a point Afor this modified projectile, I have provided a cap 23 of the same shape as the head of the assembled projectile shown in said Figs. 1, 2 and 3, which fits over the upper end of the casing Aand has' its edge lapped over and secured to the upper edge of the same.

In Figs. 10, 11 and 12, I. illustrate yet 'another modification of my improved projectile which is similar in every respect to that shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9 except that the bullets 24 have Shanks 25 depending therefrom concentrically to their axes and the tethers 26 'thereof have one end connected tov the upper portions of said Shanks 25 and then are wound each around the shank to which it is attached and have their opposite ends hunched and tied securely together in any suitable manner, independently of the diaphragm.

In Figs. 13, 14 and 15 of the drawings, I

show a modification which differs from that' shown in said Figs. 10, 11 and 12 only in the shape of the bullets 27, 27. These bullets are pointed at both ends and their tethers 28 are attached to their lower points and are loosely coiled in the s ace between the bullets and above the diap ragm, and have directly around the -bodies of said sections. The tethering'wires 30, 30 of this modification have their ends opposite those attached to said sections tied together; the diaphragm 31 is nnt seated upon thev base, but simply /separates the lower portion of the bore of the casing 23 in which the explosive 33 is contained from the upper portion of the same, and the casing is provided with a cap L 34 similar to that shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9 of the drawings. It will be'understood that in the manufacture of my invention, v'I will utilize all the means for improving the same that have been developed by' recent advances in the science of ordnance and projectiles" to which my invention belongs. All such changes as may be requiredin order to enable me to do this, I desire to beunderstood as coming within the scope. of my i11- vention.

What I claim as`ne`w is: 1. In combination, a projectileA divided longitudinally in sections, and flexible means which by being wound around the projectile hold the sections `together n ormally and also formconnecting members between the ,sections after said sections have separated.

2. In combinationfj a' projectile divided longitudinally into separable sections-having their rear ends reduced, and means wound upon the exterior of said reduced ends to bind said sections together when asin which the base of said projectile and said sinuate connecting means are retained.

5. In combinatlon, a projectile comprising a number of corresponding parts nested around the axis thereof, flexlble sinuate means for connecting-said parts, a common element distinct from the parts of the projectile to which said sinuate means are connected, and a shell in which the base of said parts, said sinuate means `and said common element are inclosed. e

6. In combination, a rojectilel divided longitudinally and centra y into a suitable number of corresponding sections nested around a common axis, and iexible sinuate means coiled around the ends of and connecting dilerent sections.

' 7. In combination, a projectile divided longitudinally into a sultable number of corresponding sections, each having a shank .of transversely reduced dimensions, and

flexible sinuate tethers the ends of which are connected to said Shanks, and between their ends are coiled upon said Shanks.

8. In combination, a projectile divided longitudinally and centrally into a suitablel number of corresponding'sections each having a shank of reduced transverse dimensions, flexible sinuate tethers the endsfof which are connected to said sections, and a common coupling element to which said tethers are connected and between which 1I WILLIAM CALDWELL HUNTINGTON.

Witnesses:

E. H. HUNTrNGToN, FRANK D. THoMAsoN. 

